Rural-mail-box indicator or flag



March 8,1927.

I y l. D. ALDERMAN HURAL'MAIL BOX INDICATOR 0R FLAG Filed July 19, 1926 Inventor W zm .ll'iorney Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES IRA D. ALDERMAN, OF CLINTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

RURAL-MAIL-BOX INDICATOR 0R FLAG.

Application filed. July 19,

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rural mail boxes, and more particularly to provide a means for causing the indicator or flag on said box to be automatically put in a position so as to in dicate the presence or absence of mail matter in said box.

Another object of my invent-ion is to provide, in a device of the character described, a means for firmly holding mail matter Within said box, said means acting in conjunction with said flag so as to cause the flag to be raised when mail is put in the box, and cause the flag to be lowered when the said mail is removed therefrom.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of What is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a rural mail box showing my invention in use therein, said mail box having mail matter deposited therein.

Figure 2 is a similar sectional view of said rural mail box showing my invention in use therein, said mailbox having no mail matter therein.

Figure 3 is a section along the line 11 of Figure 2 showing the preferred shape of spring intended to be employed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 refers to a rural mail box, of a type usual in such constructions, said box usually being provided with the flag staff 2, hereinafter described, to give an indication when mail is in the box by extending upwardly from said box as shown in Figure 1 and when the box is empty by extending horizontally as shown in Figure 2, .said flag staff carrying at its outer end the flag or marker 3, of any suitable shape or design.

Aflixed to the inside of the box 1 is the plate 4, in the preferred form of my inven- 1926. Serial No. 123,258.

tion said plate is constructed of wood but it is obvious that metal may also be used. The plate 4 has provided therein the recess 5 communicating with the aperture 6 said aperture corresponding to the aperture 7 in the side of the box 1. The staff Qpasses through the said aperture 6 and aperture 7 and is rotatably mounted on the pin 8 positioned within the recess 5. The inner end of the staff 2 has formed thereon the cam 9 so constructed as to project through the spring 10 when the staff 2 is in the horizontal position. The said spring 10 is affixed to the inner side of the plate 1 and positioned in said box 1 so as to be capable of having mail matter 11 inserted between it and the side of the plate 4 as shown.

In the operation of my invention mail matter 11 is inserted between the spring 10 and the plate 4, thereby causing the lower side of said mail matter 11 to engage the indentation 12 in the cam 9 so as to cause the rotation of the staff 2 about the pin 8 and cause the said staff 2 to assume an upright position, thus giving the desired indication that mail matter has been deposited in the box 1, said mail matter 11 being now firmly held between the cam 9 and spring 10. When the mail matter 11 has been withdrawn from the box 1 the staff 2 will be constrained by gravity to rotate about the pin 8 to a horizontal position, thus substantially conforming to the objects of my invention.

For convenience in positioning the pin 8 and for protecting the inside of the box 1 from the weather, there is provided the 'cap 13 fastened to the plate 4: by screws such as 14: and having provided therein the slot 15 for the reception of the cam 9 and having also provided the groove 16 for positioning the pin 8 between said groove 16 and a corresponding recess in said plate 4:.

I claim:

In a device for indicating the presence or absence of mail matter in a rural mail box, the combination of a plate positioned in said box having provided therein a recess communicating with an aperture therein, said box having an aperture corresponding to said aperture in said plate, a stafi rotatably positioned in said recess and extending through said apertures, said staff having at its outer end a suitable flag or marker and at its inner end a cam, springs positioned on the inner side of said plate and acting in conjunction with the said cam to cause the rotation of the said staff, When mail matter is deposited in said box between said springs and the lower end of the signal flag and 00- 10 incidently forming the means of holding said mail matter Within said box.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

IRA D. ALDER-LIAN. 

